Last week we saw Jesus’ warning to us about church leaders: while some will be faithful shepherds trying their best to feed their flock, others will be wolves in sheep’s clothing only interested in feeding on the flock. He taught that we can tell the difference by examining the fruits of their conduct as leaders …
Tag Archives: Kingdom of heaven
Matthew 7: The Golden Rule
Today we’ll look at a single verse, and it’s one of the best known out of all of Jesus’ teaching. Let’s read Matthew 7:12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. This verse is often referred to as “the …
Matthew 7 – Do not give what is sacred…
Let’s read Matthew 7:6: “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Questions This verse seems a little odd, standing on its own in between Jesus’ warning about hypocrisy in passing judgement …
Matthew 7 – to judge or not to judge…
We’ve reached Matthew 7 at last – it’s only taken us ten months! Today we’re going to look at what is perhaps one of the most frequently quoted – but also most often misunderstood – passages in all of Jesus’ teaching. Let’s read Matthew 7:1-5: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For …
Matthew 6 – Don’t worry about tomorrow
Welcome back. In today’s post we’ll cover a longer section than usual, from Matthew 6:25 right to the end of the chapter (v34). This section will conclude Jesus’ teaching on the theme of where our true number one priority in life lies. Let’s read Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your …
Matthew 6 – God vs Mammon
In our ongoing study of Matthew 6, we’ve looked in verses 19-21 at Jesus’ teaching on the absolute necessity for a Christian’s ultimate priority to be ‘in heaven’, in other words God, not here on earth. We’ve also considered in verses 22-23 his warning that a Christian who values their earthly possessions too much – …
Matthew 6 – the Lamp of the Body
Let’s read Matthew 6:22-23: The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! What was Jesus …
Matthew 6 – Where your treasure is…
We’ve now reached the second half of Matthew 6, in which Jesus’ attention turns from non-hypocritical religious observance to how we ought to set our priorities in life. Let’s begin by reading Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. …
Matthew 6 – How to pray – The Lord’s Prayer part 2
This week we’ll look at the second verse of the Lord’s prayer. Matthew 6:10 reads: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. As we can see, the first request within Jesus’ model prayer is for God’s kingdom to come. What does this mean and why was it the …
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Being counter-cultural in Matthew 5 – the Law and the Prophets
Let’s read Matthew 5:17-20 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear …
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Nihilist to Christian 